Brake apparatus



G. A. DOTTO BRAKE APPARATUS Dec. 1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1962 INVENTOR afrmi 0l. @atta G. A. DOTTO BRAKE APPARATUS Dec. 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1962 FIG-5 Dec. 1, 1964 G. A. DOTTO 3,159,245

BRAKE APPARATUS n Filed Sept. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

FIG-7 702 739 FIG-8 702 746 mim 0.30/12 ATTORNEY United States Patent C 3,159,245 naar/rn APPARATUS Gianni A. Detto, 3065 Claar Ave., Dayton 29, @hic Filed Sept. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 226,588 6 Claims. (Cl. ISS-JM) This invention relates to brake apparatus. The invention relates more particularly to brake apparatus in which a clamping action is provided upon opposite surfaces of a disc or drum or cylindrical plate for obtaining braking action.

An object of this invention is to provide brake apparatus which has the advantages of both the drum type of brake and the disc type of brake.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamping type of brake apparatus in which self energizing acion is obtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide disc type or clamping type of brake apparatus in which a greater mean radius of brake operation is obtained than would be obtained in drum brake apparatus of the same diameter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamping type of brake apparatus in which the slight necessary axial movement of the vehicle Wheel presents no problem in regard to assembly or maintenance of other elements of the apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to obtain in a disc brake apparatus a desired or required ratio between brake lining area and vehicle weight in order to meet certain state law requirements or safety council recommendations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamping type of brake apparatus which is readily and easily adaptable to wheels having drum brake structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide such brake apparatus which readily accommodates the inclusion of parking brake mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide suc clamping type of brake apparatus for association with wheel and bearing structure in which assembly or disassembly of any elements of the mechanism may be easily carried out.

Another object of this invention is to provide such brake apparatus which may be produced at relatively low costs and which is longalived.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FlGURE 1 is a sectional view of brake apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View of another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIGURE 3, but showing the elements thereof in braking position.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially on line 6 6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 7 7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view, similar to FIGURE 7, but showing a modification in the structure thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, apparatus of this invention as shown in FIGURES l and 2 comprises an annular disc or dum or cylindrical plate I6. The disc or drum or cylindrical plate 16 has opposed surfaces or ICC surface elements 17 and I9 which are parallel to a shaft 18 about which the drum 16 rotates. The surface element 17 is an outer element and has a convex engagement surface. The surface element I9 is an inner element and has a concave engagement surface. The disc or drum or plate 16 is carried by a wheel 20 which is rotatably mounted upon suitable bearing structure (not shown).

Encompassed by the disc or drum I6 arearcuate support members 26 and 28. A stud 30 having a collar 32 extends loosely through each of the support members 26 and 28 and freely attaches each of the support members 26 and 28 to a back plate 36 to which the studs or pins 3th are loosely attached. A spring 38 is disposed between each collar 32 and its respective Ksupport member 26 or 28 and urges its respective support member. toward protuberances 39 of the back plate 36. Thus, the support members 26 and 28 are free for limited axial and lateral movement with respect to the disc or drum 16.

Between the upper ends of the support members 26 and 28, as shown in FIGURE l, is an anchor, pin 40 which is secured to the back plate 36. Intermediate the lower ends of the brake lining support members 26 and 28 is an anchor pin 42 which is secured to the back plate 36. Attached to the anchor pins 40 and 42 and to the support members 26 and 23 are a plurality of spring members 4S, which urge the support members 26 and 2S toward the anchor pins di) and 42. Encompassing each anchor pin 4t) and 42 is a rotatable adjustment cam 50 for movement of the support members 26 and 28 with respect to the drum 16 to compensate for brake lining Wear.

An actuator member 54 is disposed at the upper portion of the support members 26 and 28. The actuator member 54- includes a container 56 within which is slidably movably disposed opposed pistons 5S and 6i). A spring 62 is in engagement with the pistons 58 and tlvand urges movement thereof one from the other. A chamber 6l is thus formed intermediate the pistons 58 and 60, into which Huid may flow from a conduit 63 which is joined to the container 56. The piston 58 has a rod 64 which extends from the container 56 and engages the support member. 26. The piston 60 has a rod 66 which extends from the container 56 and engages the support member 2S.

An actuator 70, similar to the actuator 54, is dispo-sed adjacent the lower portion of the support members 26 and 26. The actuator 70 has a rod 72 in engagement with the support member 26 and a rod '74 in engagement with the support member 28. The actuator '70 is also connected to the lluid conduit 63 for obtaining fluid therefrom.

The support member 2S has a brake lining 76 attached thereto which is adapted to engage the inner surface element 19 of the disc or drum 16. The support member 26 has an arm or connector 78, which is `somewhat U- shaped, and which is attached thereto adjacent the lower portion thereof. The arm or connector 7S is shown as being attached to the support member 26-by means of rivets titl. However, the arm 78 may be integrally attached to the support member 26 or secured thereto in any other suitable manner. The arm or connector 78 extends around or partially circumvents the rearward edge of the disc or drum 16 and has a portion adjacent the outer surface 17 of the disc or drum lr6,

A Ll-shaped arm 84, shown in FIGURE 2, is attached Y in any suitable manner to the support member 26 adjacent the upper portion thereof. The U-shaped arm 84 partially circumvents the rearward edge of the disc or drum I6 and has a portion adjacent the outer surface 1l7 thereof, Attached to the arms 78 and 84 by rivets 86 or by any other suitable means is an arcuate strip 88. The strip SS carries a brake lining 9i? which is disposed u adiacent the outer surface elements 17 ofthe disc or drum 16 and is adapted for engagement therewith.

Y Operation n When itis desired to provide braking action to the wheel 20, iiuid is forced into the Wheel cylinders or. actuators 54 and 70 through the conduit 63. Thus, there is relative movement beween' the support members 26 and v28 as the rods 64, 66, 72, and 74 are moved. Such relative movement between the support members 26 and 23 is against the resilient action of the springs 48.

A small amount of movement of the support member y 2S toward the disc on drum 16 results in engagement of the opposite portions thereof.

. f la Y Y and are also attached to an anchor pin 122. The springs 121i urgernovernent of the support members 104 and 106v I one toward the other. The anchor'pin 122 is carried by a back plate 121 which is carried by a spindle 123.

The support member 164 carries a lining 124. The support member 166 has arms 126 attached thereto at each arm 126 partially circumvents the disc or drum 10i) and has a portion adjacent the outer surface thereof.

The arms 126l have attached theretopan arcuate strip 128 which carries abralre lining 130. Y

When the actuator 116 is energized by flow of iiuid f thereinto through any suitable conduit {not shown) there the brake lining 76 with the inner surface element 19 of 'y the disc or drum 16. Also, when the support member 26 moves in a direction from the support member 2S, the connectors 84 and 73 are moved thereby and move thebrake lining 9i) toward the disc or drum 16. Thus, a clamping action occurs at the lining members 76 and 9G move toward the disc 16r at opposite sidesthereof.

Due to the fact that the support members 26 andv 28 have limited movement in a rotative direction with the drum 16, there can be limited movement ofthe support members 26 and 2S as the linings 76 and 90 engage the disc or drum 16. If, for example, the disc 16 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, 'as viewed in FIGURE 1, the support member 28 moves with the disc 16 in a counterclockwise direction as the lining 76 engages the disc 16. Such movement of ther support member 28 ceases f When it engages the anchor pin 42.

Also, as the lining 9@ engages theouter surface 4element 17 of the disc 16, rotation of the disc 16 causes movement of the lining 9i@ in the direction ot rotation of the 'disc 16, which results in movement of the support member 26 in the direction of rotation of the disc 16.

Such Vmovement of the support member 26 ceases when there is engagement thereof with the anchor pin 46.

Therefore, as forces are applied by theactuators 54 I and 70urging thesupport members 26 and 28 one fromv the other, there is pivotal movement of the support memlber 23 about the anchor pin 42 and there is pivotal move-Vk ment of the'support member 26 about the anchor pin 46. Due tothe fact that there is lsuch pivotal movement of i the support members` 26 and 28, the pressure ot the actuators 'S4' and 70 is inV the direction of rotation of the drum 16. vThus, there is increased clamping action of the linings 76 and 96 upon the drum 16. Thus, there is self energized increase in braking action. v

When the disc or drum 16 is rotating in the opposite direction, operation of the actuator member-s 5-'1 and 70 causes the same type of self energization of increased clamping action. c I

A steering arm 96 andan associated plate 98 are'shown connected to the back plate 36 and may be used for steer- Y ing operation.

FIGURES l3, 4, V5, 6, ma 7 Y FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 illustrate another embodiment Vof this invention'. A disc or drumrjlt) iscarried by a Wheel 102. Support members 104 and 106 are encompassed by the disc or drum 100 and Vare supported by ystuds 108 for 4limited movement thereupon in ther manner Vdiscussed above with respect to the support members 26 and'28 and the studs 30. Y

A spring Y110 is attached to the support members 164 and 106 at thel lower portion thereof and urges movement thereof one toward the other. An adjustment pin 112, having a nut 114 maintains desired spacing between thelower portion of the support members 104 and 106.

VAn actuator member 116, similar to the actuatory S4 shown in FIGURE- 1, is disposed adjacent the upper portion of the support members 104 and 166 and has actuator rods 11S in engagement therewith for relative movement therebetween. `Springs 120 are attached to the sup@ port members 104 and 106 at the upper portion thereof y drum may consist 'of .a casting 146 having a plurality of connected cavities therein, in which a plurality of ribs 142 join outer and inner brake surface elements 144 andM 146 respectively. A tighter weight material 148 than thatis relative movement between the upper portions of the l.support members 1114 and 106.. Such movement is liningsV 12d and 131) into engagement with the drum 161).

1i the disc or drum lltl is rotating inthe clockwise direction, the support members 1116 .and 166 are moved in a clockwise direction. Thus, there is pivotal movement of the support member 1M- aoout the adjustment pin 112, yand thus there is pivotal movement of the lsupport member 166 about the anchor pin 122 as engagement therebetween occurs. Thus, there a self energized increase in the clamping 4action of the linings 124 and 136 as the supp-ort members 11M- and 166 `are Vmoved slightly in the direction otrotation of the drum 10@ as the linings 1254 and13 engage the drum 19d.

Such self energized clamping action alsooccurs it the disc 166 is rotating inthe counterolockwise direction when the `actuator 116 is energized. Y

FIGURE 3 shows parking brake mechanism 134 which is connected to the ysupport lmembers 164 166 for Y operation thereof.

. FIGURE 7 shows that the outer and inner surface elements of the disc or `drum 1 6@ maybe keyed thereto by means of a plurality oi small prot-uberances 136 so that surface elements V13S and 139 are secured against movement with FIGURE 8 illustrates the manner in which a discor of the casting 140 is used las a lling within the cavities. Thus, the filling material 148serves as a support material for the brake surface elements 144 and 1116.

Inorder to compensate for the difference in the coeilicients of expansion between the material forming the surtace elements 164i and 146 land the tillingfmaterial '148, the ribs 142 `are inclined at an angle different from a radial line of the drum formed bythe materials of the elements 144, 146, land 168.' Thus, the ribs 142 move somewhat toward a .radial line and compensate for theincrease inV spacing between the inner brake surface 146 and the outer brake surface 144 as heating causes expansion of the diameter of the elements 144 and 146.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that'vvithin Vthe purview of this invention various changes may be made in theV form, details, proportion and arrangement otk parts, the-combination thereof and mode of operation, `which generally stated consist in 'a device capabie of carrying out the objects set forth, asV disclosed `and dened in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGURE 5,

respect to other portions of the disc or drumV Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Brake apparatus comprising:

support structure,

a drum rotatably carried by the support structure, the

drum having a `pair of opposed surfaces,

support means within the drum and freely carried by the support structure, the support means being movable toward and away from the drum, the support means also being movable in the direction of rotation of the drum, the support means beinU pivotalily movable with respect to the drum,

abutment means engageable by the support means for pivotal action of the support means thereabout,

engagement means carried by the support means and disposed adjacent the opposed surfaces of the drum,

actuator means within the drum for movement of the support means, such movement of the support means causing the engagement means to move into engagement with the drum at opposed surfaces thereof, engagement of the engagement means with the drum causing movement of the engagement means in the direction of rotation of the drum, thus causing the support means to move in the direction of rotation of the drum so that there is engagement of the support means with the abutment means causing pivotal action of the support means thereabout and causing pivotal action of the engagement means toward the opposed surfaces of the drum so that increased pressure is applied by the engagement means upon opposed surfaces of the drum by pivotal action of the engagement means with pivotal action of the support means .as rotative movement of the drum urges the support means into engagement with the abutment means and as the actuator means urges movement of the support means.

2. Brake apparatus comprising:

a rotatable hollow cylindrical drum, the drum having an outer engagement surface and an inner engagement surface,

a plurality of free floating support members disposed within the drum, each of the support members being movable toward and away from the drum, each of the support members also being movable in the direction of rotation of the drum, each of the support members being pivotally movable with respect to the drum,

abutment means engageable by the support members for limiting movement thereof in the direction of rotation of the drum,

engagement means carried by one of the support members and engageable with the inner engagement surface of the drum upon movement of the support member,

one of the support members having an extension portion adjacent the outer engagement surface of the drum,

engagement means carried by said extension portion of the support member and disposed adjacent the outer engagement surface of the drum and engageableV therewith upon movement of the support member, and operator means for causing relative movement between the support members for causing engagement of the engagement means with the drum, engagement of the engagement means with the drum causing the support members which carry the engagement means to move in the direction of rotation of the drum until the support members are prevented by the abutment means from further movement in the direction of rotation of the drum, the force of the operator means upon the support members as the support members engage the abutment means and as the engagement means engage the drum upon the inner and outer engagement surfaces thereof causing pivotal action of the support members and increased pressures of the engagement means upon opposite engagement surfaces of the drum.

3. Brake apparatus for a wheel comprising:

a rotatable annular disc attached to the wheel for rotation therewith, the disc having an inner arcuate surface and an outer arcuate surface, each arcuate surface having all portions thereof substantially equidistant from the axis of rotation of the disc,

support structure adjacent the disc,

a rst support member movably carried by the support structure,

a second support member movably carried by the support structure,

both of the support members being at least partially disposed within the contines of the disc,

each of the support members being generally semicircular in shape with the ends thereof adjacent substantially diametrically opposed portions of the disc, each end of each of the support members being adjacent an end of the other support member,

each of the support members being movable toward and away from the inner surface of the disc, each of the support members also being movable in the direction of rotation of the disc,

a pair of anchor pins carried by the support structure and disposed intermediate the ends of the support members and engageable thereby,

each of the support members being pivotally movable about either of the anchor pins when in engagement therewith,

resilient means attached to the anchor pins and to the support members urging movement of the support members one toward the other,

a pair of iiuid operable actuator members carried by the support structure, each of the actuator members having a pair of oppositely movable piston members, there being an actuator member adjacent each end of each of the support members and operable by opposed movement of the pistons thereof to urge the support members one from the other,

the rst support member having an engagement surface adjacent the inner surface of the disc and engageable therewith upon suiiicient movement of the first support member toward the disc,

the second support member having an engagement surface adjacent the outer surface of the disc and engageable therewith upon sufficient movement of the second support member toward the disc,

movement of the support members by the piston members of the actuator members thus causing engagement of the engagement surfaces thereof with opposite surfaces of the disc, such engagement of the support members with the disc during rotation thereof causing movement of the support members in the direction of movement of the disc and into engage ment with the anchor pins, followed by pivotal action of the support members about the anchor pins, thus causing increased pressure of the engagement surfaces upon said opposite surfaces of the disc.

4. Brake apparatus for a wheel rotatably supported by 'a spindle structure comprising:

a hollow cylindrical drum having an inner surface and an outer surface, the drum being attached to the Wheel for rotation therewith,

a pair of support members movably carried by the spindle structure, each of the support members being disposed within the drum, the support members being at adjacent opposite portions of the inner surface of the drum, one of the support members being a first support member, one of the support members being a second support member and having an arm partially circumventing the drum to a position adjacent the outer surface thereof,

a pair of anchor pins carried by the spindle structure at substantially diametrically opposed positions withof the support members being movable :in either direction of rotation of the drum, eachk of the support members being pivotally movable `about either of the anchor pins,y v

resilient means attached'to the supportrmembers and to the anchor pins and urging the support members one toward the other,

` a pair of fluid operable actuators disposed intermediate the support members and operable to move the support members relatively 'onefrom the other, first engagement means, the r'stv engagement means being carried by the iirst support member and being Vengageable with the inner surface or the drum, second engagement means, the second engagement meansbeing carried by the arm of the second support member adjacent the outer surface of the drum u and engageable therewith,

movement :of the support members one from the other by the actuators causing the lirst engagement means to move toward the inner surface of the drum and into engagement therewith, movement ofthe support members one from the other also causing the second engagement means to move toward the outer surface of the drum and rinto engagement therewith, such movement of the suppor'tvmembers thus resulting in ,movement of the engagement means and the support members by the drum in the direction of rotation ofthe drum so that each of the support mem'- bers engages one of the anc-hor pins and is urged by an actuator to pivot about the anchor pin so that self energized braking action andincreased braking forces upon the drum by the engagement means occurs.

5. Brake apparatus comprising'.y

support structure, a hollow cylindrical drum rotatably carried'byvthe support structure, the drum having an inner concave engagement surface and an outer "convex engagement surface, n

a pair of support members movably carried by the support structure, each of the Vsupport members havl ing at least a portion thereofwithin the drum,

each of the support members being movabletoward .and away from the innerV surface of the drum, each zof the support members being movable in the direction of rotation of the drum, each of the support members being pivotally movable, Y' l abutment means vengageable by the support members, each ofthe support members being pivotally movable about the abutment means when in engagement therewith, Y

actuator means engageablewith the support members' for causing relative movement therebetween and for n drum throughout a portion thereof,

t ber and-engageable with the outer surface of the drum throughout substantially the same portion thereof as engaged by the rs't said engagement means,

u 60 engagement means carried by the other support mem-V y S being caused to move in the direction of rotation of the drum so that the support members engage the abutment means and tend toY pivotally move about the abutment means as the actuator means urges movement of the support members, pivotal urging of the support members by the actuator means causing increased forces of the engagement means upon the drum.

' 6. Brake apparatus comprising:y

a rotatable hollow cylindrical drum provided with an inner engagement surface and an outer engagement surface,

a pair of movable support members, each of the support members having at least a portion thereof Within the drum', each of the support members vhaving the opposite ends thereof adjacent substantially diametrically opposite portions of the drum, each of the support members being movable toward and away from the inner surface of the drum at opposite Vportions thereof, each of the support members being pivotaily movable, each of the support members being movable in the direction of rotation of the drum,

an abutment member intermediate the support Ymembers at one end thereof, v

a fluid operable actuator adjacentthe abutment member and'having opposed pistonsV to move the support members in directions one from the other and toward the inner engagement surface of the drum,

a pin adjustable in length 'intermediate the support members at the other end thereof and in engagement therewith, Y

. an engagement element carried by ,one of the support members and engageable with the inner surface of the drum with movementof its` support member toward the inner surface of the drum,

' the other support member having a portion thereof adjacent the outer engagement surface of the drum, an engagement element carried by said portion of said v other support member and engageable with the outer engagement surface of the drum with movement of lits support member toward the inner surface of the drum, Y said engagement velements being engageablef with the drum as the pistons of the actuator move the support members, the engagement elements moving Vwith roby pivotal leverage action each ofthe engagement elements is urged to a greater degreerinto contact with its respective surface of the drum.

References Qitetl by the Esaminer Umrnn srArns PATENTS Y 615,528 12/89 Clark .l i 18g- 76 1,097,451 5/14 V'LilfOClt l88-76 1,214,778 V2/17 Heen 188-76 1,7ll,321 4/29 MoNelles 18S-V76 1,831,919 l'l/Sl Mallinger s 188-76 X 2,018,912 lil/35 Carroll Q. 18S-76 X 2,127,739 3/38 La Brie 188--7324' i 2,192,695 3/40 RosenbergV 18S- 76` 2,268,685 l/42 Walther et al. 18S-#76 the actuator means moving that engagement means into 65 linitial engagement with the drum, the drum causing" movement of the engagement means in the direction of rotation of the drum, the support members thus `rv'irll-UR L. LA PONT, Primary Examiner. RALPH D. BLAKnsLnn, Examiner. 

1. BRAKE APPARATUS COMPRISING: SUPPORT STRUCTURE, A DRUM ROTATABLY CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, THE DRUM HAVING A PAIR OPPOSED SURFACES, SUPPORT MEANS WITHIN THE DRUM AND FREELY CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, THE SUPPORT MEANS BEING MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE DRUM, THE SUPPORT MEANS ALSO BEING MOVABLE IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE DRUM, THE SUPPORT MENAS BEING PIVOTALLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE DRUM, ABUTMENT MEANS ENGAGEABLE BY THE SUPPORT MEANS FOR PIVOTAL ACTION OF THE SUPPORT MEANS THEREABOUT, ENGAGEMENT MEANS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT MEANS AND DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OPPOSED SURFACES OF THE DRUM, ACTUATOR MEANS WITHIN THE DRUM FOR MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORT MEANS, SUCH MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORT MEANS CAUSING THE ENGAGEMENT MEANS TO MOVE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DRUM AT OPPOSED SURFACES THEREOF, ENGAGEMENT OF THE ENGAGEMENT MEANS WITH THE DRUM CAUSING MOVEMENT OF THE ENGAGEMENT MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE DRUM, THUS CAUSING THE SUPPORT MEANS TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF TORATION OF THE DRUM SO THAT THERE IS ENGAGEMENT OF THE SUPPORT MEANS WITH THE ABUTMENT MEANS CAUSING PIVOTAL ACTION OF THE SUPPORT MEANS CAUSING PIVOTAL PIVOTAL ACTION OF THE ENGAGEMENT MEANS TOWARD THE OPPOSED SURFACES OF THE DRUM SO THAT INCREASED PRESSURE IS APPLIED BY THE ENGAGEMENT MEANS UPON OPPOSED SURFACES OF THE DRUM BY PIVOTAL ACTION OF THE ENGAGEMENT MEANS WITH PIVOTAL ACTION OF THE SUPPORT MEANS AS ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE DRUM URGES THE SUPPORT MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ABUTMENT MEANS AND AS THE ACTUATOR MEANS URGES MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPORT MEANS. 